Today is 12th April 2009, right? Tomorrow is start at our Myanma traditional Water Festival!!!
Hmmmmmm....... I missssssssss so muchhhhhh my country water festivallllllllllll.......
Let's read about our traditional water festival::::::::
“Thingyan” means Myanmar New Year Water Festival. It is generally falls on 13th April to 16th April. Actually, Thingyan (water festival) marks the changing of the old year to the New Year according to Myanma Calendar. However according to the solar calender, the new year falls usually on the 17th.Thingyan is similar to the Thai New Year celebrations known as Songkran that occur during the same period. The Mekong Water Festival includes the countries Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. The celebration is called Songkran in Thailand, Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Thingyan in Myanmar and Pimai in Laos.
Originally, water was gently sprinkled on people using twigs as a blessing in the belief that the past year's sins would be washed away and the mind and spirit would be purified in readiness for the coming year. This 500 year old festival which lasts for the 3 days immediately before the New Year has these days turned into a 3 day party where the primary objective seems to be to get as wet as possible, as often as possible. The whole country is on holiday for 3 days and almost no-one except the elderly are spared a drenching during this time.
During the time of the festival, the Myanmar people used to perform religious deeds and the children and the middle-aged people play splashing water in one another. We are building the “Pandals”, these are temporary raised stages erected on main roads particularly in places where there happens to be a lake by the side of the road that offers a plentiful supply of water. These “pandals” are usually furnished with high powered water jets with which the occupants proceed to hose anyone and anything that passes by. Special interesting at Thingyan Festival are beautiful decorated cars featuring big boats go round the city entertaining the people, singing, dancing and Thangyat Chanting.
Nights are filled with entertainment and lights. On the new year day there is the tradition of treating the elderly people washing their heads and trimming this nails. They pay homage to the Pagodas, washing the Buddha images and setting free the lives of livestock. People around the country gather together again and visits pagodas, offers and pay homage to the monks, play traditional games and celebrate with their joyous spirit. Some offer free food and drinks for everyone who visits the pagodas, some make other donations.
If you can be visit our country’s water festival and new year day with us, you will never forget the true joy of our lovely traditional.
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